DOE Names Idaho Cleanup Project Employee Facility Representative of the Year

Palmi Byron is a facility representative for the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho Cleanup Project.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — In his Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) role overseeing decontamination and demolition (D&D) of three Naval Reactors nuclear reactor prototype facilities, Palmi Byron helped finish the teardown of the first of these vessels ahead of schedule and more than $15 million under budget.

Byron also provided critical support to the safe and successful startup of low-activity tank waste treatment through the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste approach at the Hanford Site in Washington state — one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) highest Office of Environmental Management (EM) priorities.

Such accomplishments have resulted from his superior work performance, leading DOE to recognize Byron with its Facility Representative of the Year Award.

“Mr. Byron demonstrates unwavering commitment to the ICP mission. Through his exemplary conduct, he inspires both federal and contractor employees to prioritize safety, ensure quality, deliver on mission objectives and maintain cost effectiveness,” said Nicholas Balsmeier, acting ICP manager. “His leadership sets a high standard for his team, and the Idaho Cleanup Project.”

Byron joins a long list of EM employees across the cleanup complex — from ICP and the Hanford Site in Washington state to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina — who have received this DOE honor since the 1990s following the creation of the facility representative position.

Byron’s exceptional technical knowledge of conduct of operations, radiation protection, maintenance, technical training, and regulations and requirements, combined with his keen ability to analyze contractor performance and metrics, significantly contributed to his success as a facility representative, according to award nomination documents.

In his trusted position of respect among the Naval Reactors and contractor staff, Byron recognized nascent safety and operational indicators before they became significant issues, saving time and expense. D&D of the second and third prototype facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory Site, originally planned in series, are now being worked in parallel and continue to be ahead of schedule and under budget.

Byron has demonstrated team leadership and dedication to excellence by repeatedly helping other facility representatives with training and qualifications. While observing two fellow facility representatives performing environmental compliance oversight, Byron stepped in to mentor them, drawing from his regulatory experience, patience and innate ability to communicate with people of various experience levels. He has also exemplified teamwork by routinely collaborating with ICP subject matter experts on myriad reviews and issues.

Facility representatives are highly trained professionals who provide day-to-day oversight of contractor operations at the Department’s most hazardous facilities across the complex. They focus on safety oversight and serve as an on-scene federal presence, monitoring mission accomplishments and worker and public safety.

-Contributor: David Sheeley